In today’s day and age, virtually every kosher product available to the consumer comes with a hechsher. By hechsher, I mean an official and recognised rabbinical body or agency that certifies the kashrus of a product, be it a food item or a religious article. Hechsherim play a vital role in providing consumer confidence, and something branded by a reputable kashrus agency will be considered more legitimate than a similar product that does not. The agency has rigid policies and protocols in place to ensure correct standards are met, and they are independent of the manufacturer so that there is no conflict of interest. As we have discussed on this forum previously, there is a distinct lack of official hechsherim on Sta”m products - Tefillin, Mezuzos and Sifrei Torah. Even the Vaad Mishmeres Sta”m, the oldest and most well- known rabbinic agency in the Sta”m world does not certify products. They test and ordain sofrim and magihim (examiners), offer a computer checking service (sp...
cuttnig klaf on stam that is already written is itself a contentious issue
ReplyDeleteOn a related issue, I've noticed by megillot and sifrei Torah when it's time to sew the yeriot together that there are sometimes slight differences in size between one section and the next, usually no more than a millimeter or so but sometimes as much as a centimeter. Is it permitted to trim the yeriot to make them even, or should one leave them as they come from the klafmacher?
ReplyDeleteI think you cannot, however there may be a difference between stam that has already been used with a bracha and not
ReplyDeleteYehoshuah, can you find out please rav shammais opinion on cutting klaf as well as if there is a nfkah minnah between stam that has not yet been used?
ReplyDeleteEven in a case let's say where the parshiyos don't fit into the batim and must be cut down R' Shammai said he's matir. So seemingly STaM that hasn't been used would be more kulo-dik...
ReplyDeleteThe original question here was never answered. What if - before writing - one decided to cut the edge of the klaf in a fancy design, is it alright to do so?
ReplyDelete